- Induction therapy: Patients receive bortezomib IV on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 and oral melphalan and oral ascorbic acid on days 1-4. Treatment repeats every 28 days to maximum response [MR] or for at least 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with responding disease receive an additional 2 courses of induction therapy beyond MR and proceed to maintenance therapy. Patients with stable disease or without a maximum reduction in their paraprotein after 8 courses of induction therapy are eligible to receive maintenance therapy.